AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20966, 4 March 1930, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. Gloria Swanson’s first talking picture, “Tbe Trespasser,” is attracting good audiences to the Regent Theatre. “ The Trespasser ” follows no new line of thought, but is none the worse for that. It is the old, old story of the humble girl marrying into a wealthy family without the family’s consent or knowledge, and the inevitable split between father and son. Up to a point the plot runs along the orthodox lines, but there comes an intriguing twist when the girl, who, to save her husband from the wrath of his father, disappears with her child and comes under the protection of her former employer. The marriage is annulled by some process or other. It is the mad infatuation of a man —the girl’s employer—that causes all the trouble in this particular case, and but for that there would be no story at all. There is_ an unpleasant and totally unworthy suspicion as to her young son’s parentage; the world in which she lives naturally taking the worst possible view of the circumstances surrounding the girl’s life. heartbreaking almost equal to that met with in “ East Lynne,” a "happy ending comes about. Gloria Swanson plays one of her biggest parts as the heroine, and is strongly supported. There is also screened a Metro-Goldw-yn-Mayer News Gazette. Miss Marion Harris is heard in a song number, and a comedy, “Madame Q..” is very amusing. “RIO RITA.” On Friday the Regent Theatre will present a film of which it is safe to say many people in Dunedin have been looking eagerly for its coming. This is the all-talking and singing • picture “ Rio Rita. All the rich qualities which drew Broadway crowds for 62 consecutive weeks the Ziegfeld Theatre have been retained in the film production, and to these have been added mobility and magnitude_ which the_ stage, even under the direction of a Ziegfeld, Could not hope to attain. Against the most lavish sets yet seen on the screen is played and sung ty of the Mexican borderland by Bebe Daniels, John Boles, and a supporting east of hundreds. Vocal choruses, inspiring dance routines, and beauty assemblies show the endless possibilities of the speaking screen. In the huge cast are Robert Woolsey and Bert Wheeler, crack comedians of the original show; Don Alvarado. popular screen player; Dorothy Lee, player sensation of “syncopation”; Helen Kaiser, Follies beauty; Georges Renevant, Tiny Sandford, Sam Nelson, a P“ kya Hosiat. More than 100 glorious girls, the Pietro Cimini grand chorus of SO male voices, and the famed Radio lictures symphony orchestra are anions other features. The tvhole of the second part of the production is filmed in teclimcolour aboard a sumptuously furnished galleon anchored in the Rio Grande In addition to “Rio Rita,” “Following the Sun Around, The Kinkajou ’’ and melodies from the original show, two new songs are heard. These, also composed by Harry Tierney and Joe M'Carthy. are ,< Sweetheart, We Need Each Other,” and . ion re Always in My Arms.” EMPIRE THEATRE. * Embarrassing Moments” is having rim , at the Empire Theatre. Reginald Denny is seen and heard at his tin JSa rD lr Kenne ffy> William Ausand J? tls . Harlan are capable suppoits. The foundation of the farce is turn t +° ry i ° f i youn F Birl who, on her reV™ K h . er , home Horn an art school in New York, is met by the whole of the fntW Pe ° P ? ’n lnc H dlDg her fiance, her DnrinA- “ her • youi ?S man ’ s ” mother, ini ;/ , tbe ev T? K ’ when her home-com-ing is being celebrated, her friend Mae n TW°V th i e Wl V eless > and the strainfof dance w k - orcl ? estra Paying a familiar ““KF 6 *!« to commence a modern dance. The .villagers are all thorhands y bneWh d ’ Wlth the rasult that she L™, 8 ! 1 ® the young man his ring. When her father presses her for an explanation, New Ynrk tS Btor ‘r ? f mother man in hih + d ’ °?, b f u i s Questioned as to IwJ n' ’- s . ta , tes tffat he is called Thacldeus Cruickshank. By a luebv min. New no Yorl- er n e nd S “"T that name in J\ew York, and complications of a most a™d US keen k i nd Spr ’" K up H ke mushrooms. . kee P °n growing until a happy ending is reached. Mr Leslie V. Harvey’sFno 0 ”? a r,V Li& t ,S - Hungarian RhapT ody No 2, I m -Painting the Clouds well ® AlaK ne h an< U he - Hawaiian tarerLu i 6 ' - He 15 beard in “ TWI f O of . Pmn° solos, including ® pnng ’ l (Sinding), a medley Hea P rt P ” %^ rS ’ a,ld ‘‘ Awakes Mv Heart ( Samson and Delilah”).

“MARRIED IN' HOLLYWOOD” Superlatives are trite, but it is said they will be used after viewing and hearing the feature at Jhe Empire Theatre the m °fi P r«(- W ’r Vhere It ' vill be Presented for TTnvm i tHne ' orma Terris and J Haiold Murray reveal two fine “talkie” S es p a t D( ' they are well supported by cSttrtt BeS S? aW r. Da ? dy ' Walt( * Catlett. Delia Karneily, Douglas Gilmour trim V° 0tll< i ? notnblcs - Music of ff tlC QUa i ,ty is presented in number after number, written by Oscar Strauss and David Stamper. Brin-fin"-something entirely tiew in screen entevPp lr i m .i n r i M arried in Hollywood ” will formal 8 tunefl,b laughing surprise tor local audiences. This Viennese son''. for" firSt - + ever writtcn directly tor the talking pictures, embodies many novelties in both theme and execution ductions °of « ° ne t] ie distinctive productions of the year. Opening with a One C ra C FoL; ie fP ° f - J he Viennese Opel a House, the picture sweeps rapidly mm nff, ?olo u r / uI romantic theme of the Ime affair between an American singer and a Balkan prince. By means of a attentffin d of° nC fil t th ° sill = er attracts the ™ a . film magnate, who puts her wnV nan es on l i er arrival in Hollv- " °°d-. Oddly enough, her first role ‘is very similar to the one she actually plaVed in Vienna, but the “-prince" cast for the thcn wXll P T eS unsatis factory. and ■ 2 i, tle story cannot he spoilt bv Tlmridnl + T- dmff bere - To-morrow and ToVlifl V n tllls Programme will be Mr S, Tf H arVCy S , last two days and nu gh * at the console of the Empire Theatre Christie Unit organ. p "SUNNY SIDE UP.” wf™ n ‘T Sl^ e Up/’-the musical comedy, feating Janet Gaynor and Charles FarJn ’ "' b,ch commence at the Empire ° n March 12, has been a sensational Success wherever it is ron+nln r | S^ lte + C l‘- Evid ence of this fact ln , th,s cutting taken from Un ” C !-in t IUrC ! <.P a P e rsSunny Side rw c f-,i r> c i omp nt e a month’s season at Cijsta! Palace Theatre at the end of tWv Te °i k ’ a f? eord iH tbe Christchurch to nUv t 1 world :. This' picture continues J 1 ca - paclty houses at matinee and men ng sessions, and that is not to he Farr!fll' ed ttt ' Jane f Oaynor and Charles aiiejl u ere popular enough in silent films but ,n this talkie they have exceecled all expectations. “ Sunny Side r V P 13 not merely a brilliant succession of taTcwfT’ a ? d mnsic - There « a capiaud nn’ t lC St ° ry o£ 1 a ricll young man and a poor young girl,,; and a brood of gossipy relations. It is very amusing dbi d ufi Ve - ry ~n ,man - There are three comedians in the picture that would make it Frnn?- M p- r i anywhere . , Marjorie White, inank Richardson, and El Brendell start in an amusing way at the very- beginning, and they keep on becoming better every minute To hoar Miss White ami Ricnardson singing “ You’ve Got Me Pieking letals Oft Of Daisies” is to hear Sb- Ut wiH nofc bG forgotten STRAND THEATRE. , .® tra P d Theatre has a very strong attraction in Interference,” which has been drawing crowded houses. There is a strong plot m this picture, and the Pnits are capably taken by tbe cast. Brook ” iclad « William Powell, Clive “Tn?hf EvelyU «^ rent - and Doris Kenyon. telk ofTb ce i ha i s V hri], ! n " story, and reus ot a husband who soes to the war a-ahM anwf dead - marries Vi 1 ; „ al ] rl aft ? r time an “Enoch band T n f to " Cl 1 S I P res 9 nte d,.and the husfji, i S V- TI 1? Picture; works up to snnno J Tf dramatlc dlmax ' TKere is a good supporting programme.

“THE LETTER." Strand Theatre will screen the him The Letter" Friday night. r„f. re ninny colourful sets in “The Kf co- of tl:em presenting the usual me of Singapore and the Orient. Those ,-cte include a full-sized bungalow located m the heart of a rubber plantation; a court room holding 200 persons, and a LOnnesc gambling house. Throughout The picture thc_ jungle setting is emphasisca. The principal roles are taken by Jeanne Eagclg and O, P. Heggie, with other well-known actors in support.

OCTAGON THEATRE. Despite the fact that it is in its second week at the Octagon Theatre, “ Flight" is still gaining in popularity, There is an illuminating insight into the lives of those who make a living by flying. A young man named Phelps loses his good name over a football match, and, being in disgrace, joins a flying school, at which he is not a prominent success. The tutor is named Williams, and he and Phelps do not “ hit it.” Then a girl in the shape of a pretty little nurse comes upon the scene, and both men fall in love with . She prefers Phelps, who, along with Williams, is despatched with a squadron of planes to suppress a rising by a band of bandits. Phelps meets with a terrible accident, and would in all probability have been killed, but is rescued by Wilboth being severely burned. Much that is very spectacular is seen in connection with the accident. Like all satisfactory fiction, the climax is just what it ought to be. Ralph Graves (Phelps), Lila Lee,, (Elinor, the nurse), and Jack Holt (Williams) all, make a great success of the parts they fill, and are strongly supported. There is also screened a Fox Movietone News, an Australian Gazette, and a film depicting a tour through Hcdlywood. “ HIGH TREASON.” Those who are curious as to what London will be like 10 years hence should see High Treason,” an entertaining alldialogue film forecast of love and life in 1940, to be presented at the Octagon Theatre next Friday. In the picture the London of the future is shown, and the “Tama is based upon the conflict of a World-League of Peace and-the militant forces of America and Europe. The recording is excellent. Every word spoken by the principals, Jameson Thomas, Benita Hume, Humberston Wright, and Basil Gill, is clear and distinct, and, apart from dialogue and music, sound effects in many instances are what might be described as spectacular. Sound is used with particular effect in the scenes depicting an explosion in the Channel tunnel, Mafeking scenes in a night club on the declaration war, and scenes of the women’s triumphal peace march.. The representation of life 10 years hence affords opportunity for spectacular scenes and settings of unique interest. London is shown with the new Charing Cross Bridge and with buildings provided with flat roofs as landing places for aeroplanes and helicopters. The destruction of New York by incendiary bombs and gas dropped from the air is extraordinarily well done, and the explosion’ in' the Channel tunnel is a graphic piece of realism. Sartorial surprises abound. Women sport useful but dainty plus-four suits for office wear, while for evening occasions divided skirts with knee breeches are evidently the thing. One could go on picking out sections of the film which have unusual interest. 4 High Treason ” is said to be the most original “ talkie ” yet made. KING EDWARD THEATRE. The King Edward Theatre will present to-night what should prove to be another attractive programme. . The main picture is entitled “ The Forbidden Women,” with Victor Varconi in the leading role. This is supported- by “The Man and the Moment, ’ a film in. which the principal parts are taken by Hod La Rocque and Miss Dove. PORT CHALMERS PICTURES. “Redskin,” which will be presented by Launer Pictures at Port Chalmers tonight and to-morrow night, is undoubtedly an excellent production. There is no spoken dialogue in the picture, as the entire film is synchronised with a musical score, sound effects, and the beautiful singing of the’ theme number “ Redskin,”